Real estate and business professional Chad Roffers maintains an active lifestyle through a number of sports, including tennis. Like all sports, tennis poses the risk of injury. Below, Mr. Roffers discusses tennis elbow, one of the most common tennis-related injuries. 

Tennis elbow is caused by repeated stress on the muscles of the arm and wrist, which results in microscopic tears and pain in the outer elbow. To avoid these tears, players should always stretch before a match and seriously consider wearing an elbow brace or sleeve. Tennis elbow sometimes results from poor stroke formation. If possible, the player may want to consult with a professional trainer to ensure proper technique. Sometimes, equipment is to blame, especially if the player uses a heavy racket or especially heavy balls.

Traditionally, treating tennis elbow involves regular icing, rest, and the use of ibuprofen or other mild anti-inflammatory medications. Players may also want to investigate alternatives such as splinting or acupuncture.
 
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The American Red Cross has received a heavy volume of publicity recently due to its presence on the scene of numerous international crises, but Chad Roffers has been a generous contributor to the non-profit disaster relief organization for a number of years. 

The American Red Cross began its non-partisan humanitarian efforts shortly after the conclusion of the Civil War, and over time has grown into the remarkable humanitarian relief operation that it is today. The American Red Cross estimates that it responds to over 70,000 U.S. disaster situations annually, whether natural or man-made, providing food, shelter, and direct financial assistance to millions of people impacted by emergencies. For example, since the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Red Cross has been present in areas affected by the storm, from Rhode Island to Virginia, and especially in the Greater New York and New Jersey areas. It’s estimated that approximately 61,000 individuals have sought overnight stays in over 250 Red Cross shelters, that 3.2 million meals have been served so far, and that more than 121.000 hygiene and clean-up items have been distributed to the area’s residents. As a charitable organization, the American Red Cross is largely dependent upon individual donors such as Chad Roffers to continue its humanitarian efforts, both in America and abroad.

About Mr. Roffers:
Chad Roffers is in charge of business development for New York-based Concierge Auctions, which deals in luxury real estate.

 
                                                                                                     Posted by Bühler
Though many are daunted by the prospect of learning how to sail, sailing is quite easy and relaxing once you understand the basics. Before you learn about the actual act of sailing, there are several terms you should know.

Bow: The front, or head, of the boat.

Aft: The rear of the boat. Also referred to as the stern.

Hull: The ship’s body.

Starboard: The right side of the vessel as one faces the bow.

Port: The left side of the vessel as one faces the bow.

Deck: The floor of a boat.

Ceilings: This paradoxical term refers to the walls of the boat. Also known as bulkheads.

Overhead: The ceiling of the boat, as ceilings are understood in most other forms of architecture.

Masts: Vertical beams.

Booms: Horizontal poles that can hit unwary sailors. Use caution when moving about the ship, as booms tend to swing in heavy winds.

Gaffs: Horizontal booms considered too high to reach.

Poles: Horizontal booms high enough that they cannot hit a sailor.

Spars: The various types of masts and booms.

Line: A rope used for a specific purpose. For example, a dock line is used to secure the ship to a dock.

Standard rigging: The collective group of stationary lines designated to secure the ship’s masts; typically steel cables rather than standard rope.

Shrouds: Also known as stays, shrouds are the individual lines of a ship’s standard rigging.

Running rigging: While standard lines remain stationary, running rigging is comprised of movable lines that control sails and other onboard equipment.
 
In my work in business development at Concierge Auctions in New York, I have participated in many real estate auctions for luxury properties. What follows are a few facts to help you understand this type of selling.

Like antique and art auctions, a real estate auction typically uses the familiar open-outcry method to signal the auctioneer. The auction is held on the property, such as a luxury estate. People who cannot attend the event in person can take part by phone, online, or through a proxy.

The auction firm checks prospective buyers for financial fitness to meet the expected bid range. The firm consults with bankers to confirm the winning bidder has the funds necessary to ensure a timely closing, typically 30 days or less.

Concierge Auctions generally sets a buyer premium, which is added to the highest bid as either a set percentage or a specified value.

About the author: Before he signed on at Concierge Auctions, Chad Roffers was the president and co-founder of SKY Sotheby’s International Realty, which during his tenure made some $500 million in luxury real estate sales.